Housing for portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A housing includes a first section and a second section. The first section is made of metal. The first section includes two opposite first sidewall and a first connecting panel connecting the first sidewall. The second section is made of plastic. The second section is integrally molded on the first sidewalls. Each first sidewall defines a number of retaining holes, the second section has a number of retaining pins, and each retaining pin is retained in the retaining hole to fix the first section to the second section.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to housings, and particularly relatesto housings used in portable electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

With the development of wireless communication and informationprocessing technology, portable electronic devices, such as mobiletelephones and electronic notebooks are now in widespread use. Externalappearance of the housing of the portable electronic device can be oneof the key factors attracting consumers.

The housing typically includes a first section and a second sectionmolded to the first section to achieve an attractive externalappearance. However, the sections can easily separate from each otherbecause the binding force between the sections is usually not largeenough.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the exemplary housing for portable electronic device canbe better understood with reference to the following drawings. Thesedrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead beingplaced upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplaryhousing. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, thesame reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to thesame or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic and assembled view of a housing according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another view of the housing of FIG. 1 viewed from anotheraspect.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the housing shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 2 alongthe line of IV-IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For illustrative purposes, the device is an electronic device such as aradiotelephone. The radiotelephone described herein is a representationof the type of wireless communication device that may benefit from thepresent disclosure. However, it is to be understood that the presentdisclosure may be applied to any type of hand-held or portable deviceincluding, but not limited to, the following devices: cordless phones,paging devices, personal digital assistants, portable computers,pen-based or keyboard-based handheld devices, remote control units,portable media players that have wireless communication capability andthe like. Accordingly, any reference herein to the radiotelephone shouldalso be considered to apply equally to other portable wirelesselectronic devices.

An exemplary embodiment of a housing 100 of an electronic device isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The housing 100 includes a first section 10, asecond section 20 retained (e.g., integrally molded) to the firstsection 10, and a decorative element 30 fixed (e.g., by laser beamwelding) on the first section 10. In this exemplary embodiment, thefirst section 10 and the decorative element 30 are both made of metal,and the second section 20 is made of plastic.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first section 10 is substantially U-shaped inthis exemplary embodiment. The first section 10 includes two oppositefirst sidewalls 11 and a first connecting panel 13 connecting ends ofthe first sidewalls 11. The first section 10 defines a first opening 15opposite to the first connecting panel 13. Each first sidewall 11includes a distal end 112 opposite to the first connecting panel 13 anddefines a plurality of retaining holes 1122 through the distal end 112.The retaining holes 1122 a retain the second section 20 to the firstsection 10. The first section 10 further includes an outer surface 17and an inner surface 19 opposite to the outer surface 17. Each firstsidewall 11 further includes a plurality of latching elements 114protruding from corresponding inner surface 19, for latching the housing100 to a main body (not shown) of the electronic device.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the second section 20 is substantiallyU-shaped in this exemplary embodiment. The second section 20 includestwo opposite second sidewalls 21 and a second connecting panel 23connecting ends of the second sidewalls 21. The second section 20defines a second opening 25 opposite to the first connecting panel 13.The second opening 25 communicates with the first opening 15 when thesecond section 20 is connected to the first section 10. Each secondsidewall 21 includes a plurality of retaining pins 212 corresponding tocorresponding retaining holes 1122. Each retaining pin 212 is retainedin one of the retaining holes 1122 to reinforce the engagement betweenthe first section 10 and the second section 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the decorative element 30 is substantiallyU-shaped in this exemplary embodiment. The decorative element 30 isfixed on the first section 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a method for manufacturing a housing 100 mayinclude the following steps. A first section 10 defining a plurality ofretaining holes 1122 is located in a mold cavity of a mold. Moltenplastic is injected into the mold cavity to mold a second section 20with portions of the molten plastic flowing into the retaining holes1122 to mold one retaining pin 212 in each retaining hole 1122. Adecorative element 30 is fixed to the first section 10 by someconventional method such as laser beam welding.

The housing 100 includes the first section 10 with a plurality of theretaining holes 1122 and the second section 20 with a plurality ofretaining pins 212, and each retaining pin 212 is retained in one of theretaining holes 1122, so the first section 10 can be firmly fixed to thesecond section 20 by the combination of the retaining holes 1122 and theretaining pins 212.

It is to be understood, however, that even through numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosureto the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the termsin which the appended claims are expressed.

1. A housing, comprising: a first section, the first section includingtwo opposite first sidewalls and a first connecting panel connecting thefirst sidewalls; and a second section, the second section integrallymolded on the first sidewalls; wherein each first sidewall defines aplurality of retaining holes, the second section has a plurality ofretaining pins, each retaining pin is retained in the retaining hole toretain the first section to the second section.
 2. The housing asclaimed in claim 1, wherein each first sidewall has a distal endopposite to the first connecting panel, the retaining holes are definedthrough the distal ends.
 3. The housing as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe second section includes two opposite second sidewalls and a secondconnecting panel connecting the second sidewalls, each second sidewallis retained to one of the distal ends.
 4. The housing as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a decorative element, wherein the firstsection includes an outer surface; the decorative element is retained onthe outer surface.
 5. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein thedecorative element is retained on the outer surface by laser beamwelding.
 6. The housing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the decorativeelement is made of metal.
 7. The housing as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe first section is made of metal and the second section is made ofplastic.
 8. A housing, comprising: a first section, the first sectionincluding a first sidewall; and a second section, the second sectionintegrally molded on the first sidewall; wherein the first sidewalldefines at least one retaining hole, the second section has at least oneretaining pin, each retaining pin is retained in a correspondingretaining hole to retain the first section to the second section.
 9. Thehousing as claimed in claim 8, wherein each first sidewall has a distalend opposite to the first connecting panel, the retaining holes aredefined through the distal ends.
 10. The housing as claimed in claim 9,wherein the second section includes two opposite second sidewalls and asecond connecting panel connecting the second sidewalls, each secondsidewall is retained to one of the distal ends.
 11. The housing asclaimed in claim 8, further comprising a decorative element, wherein thefirst section includes an outer surface; the decorative element isretained on the outer surface.
 12. The housing as claimed in claim 11,wherein the decorative element is retained on the outer surface by laserbeam welding.
 13. The housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein thedecorative element is made of metal.
 14. The housing as claimed in claim13, wherein the first section is made of metal and the second section ismade of plastic.